PeopleofSuperintelligence

Researcher

Peter W. Shor

Also known as Peter Shor, Peter Williston Shor

Peter Shor is an MIT applied mathematician known for Shor's algorithm, a quantum method for factoring integers. The MIT-IBM Computing Research Lab files his profile under machine learning, alongside information theory and quantum computing. He earned a Caltech degree in 1981 and an MIT doctorate in 1985, then spent the years from 1986 to 2003 on AT&T's research staff. In 1994 he published a quantum factoring algorithm, and in 1995 he worked out a quantum error-correction method. He is the Morss Professor of Applied Mathematics at MIT and joined its faculty in 2003.

Works
244
Citations
53,794
h-index
67

Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 15 October 2026.

Timeline

  1. 1981–1985

    Caltech and an MIT doctorate

    He earns a mathematics degree from Caltech in 1981 and a PhD in applied mathematics from MIT in 1985 under Tom Leighton.

  2. 1986–2003

    Research at AT&T Bell Labs

    He joins AT&T's research staff in 1986 and stays until 2003. At Bell Labs he develops Shor's algorithm.

  3. 1994–1995

    A factoring algorithm and error correction

    He publishes a quantum factoring algorithm in 1994 and a quantum error-correction method in 1995.

  4. 1998–1999

    Nevanlinna, Gödel and MacArthur awards

    In 1998 he receives the Nevanlinna Prize at the 23rd International Congress of Mathematicians. In 1999 he receives the Gödel Prize and a MacArthur Fellowship.

  5. 2017–2023

    Dirac, Killian and Breakthrough awards

    Awards in this span include the ICTP Dirac Medal in 2017, MIT's James R. Killian Jr. Faculty Achievement Award in 2022, and the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics in 2023.

  6. 2025

    A Claude E. Shannon Award

    The IEEE Information Theory Society gives him the 2025 Claude E. Shannon Award.

  7. Since 2003

    Morss Professor at MIT

    He joins MIT's faculty as a full professor of applied mathematics in 2003 and holds the Morss Professorship. The MIT-IBM Computing Research Lab files his profile under machine learning, alongside information theory and quantum computing.

Sources and credits

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  1. Peter Shor - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org. Checked 15 October 2026.
  2. Profile math.mit.edu. Checked 15 October 2026.
  3. Peter Shor wins Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics | MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology news.mit.edu. Checked 15 October 2026.
  4. MIT's Peter Shor Receives 2025 Claude E. Shannon Award thequantuminsider.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  5. Shor's Algorithm and Quantum Supremacy - What's Better About Quantum Computers? - Peter W. Shor pswscience.org. Checked 15 October 2026.
  6. Dirac Medallists 2017 | ICTP ictp.it. Checked 15 October 2026.
  7. Peter Shor mitibmwatsonailab.mit.edu. Checked 15 October 2026.